Officers shot in West Philly rampage honored at hoops tourney

Four weeks after they were shot in the line of duty during a terrifying rampage in West Philadelphia, Philadelphia Police Sgt. Sylvia Young and University of Pennsylvania Police Officer Ed Miller were honored for their bravery at a charity basketball event Saturday.

Hosted by the Gustine Recreation Center, the "Push for Peace" tournament was organized by two nonprofit organizations - iSEED Inc. and Shoot Basketballs NOT People - that aim to foster positive relationships between local youths and law enforcement.

At the game, Philadelphia police, fire, and sheriff's department personnel teamed up against volunteers and students from Shoot Basketballs NOT People. Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. declared the day - and every third Saturday of October - "Push for Peace" day in the city.

Looking on were Young and Miller, who thanked the community for prayers and support after the Sept. 16 shooting that started at 52nd and Sansom Streets at 11:18 p.m.

Nicholas Glenn, 25, of West Philadelphia, approached Young's patrol car and fired 18 times, striking the 46-year-old six times, according to police. The 19-year police veteran, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was wounded in the shoulder, arm, and chest. Next, Miller, 56, a retired Philadelphia police officer, was shot by Glenn in the right hip, ankle, and right elbow.

Four civilians also were shot, one fatally. Sara Salih, 25, was killed as she sat in a car near her home with her boyfriend. Police eventually cornered Glenn, who had multiple arrests, most of them drug-related, and shot him dead.

Malika Rahman, vice chair of iSEED Inc. and a sheriff's deputy, planned the Push for Peace basketball tournament to promote "positive mentorships and relationships with our youth." Her organization works with underprivileged youth in Philadelphia, Norfolk, Va., and Rochester, N.Y., to facilitate academic support, food-justice programs, and career mentoring. Rahman said that while her organization began planning the tournament last spring, she felt compelled to use it to honor Young and Miller.

"I'm a female law enforcement officer, and there's the impression that we're separate from the community, but we're part of the community," Rahman said. "We need to take our struggles and unite."

Garry Mills, founder of Shoot Basketballs NOT People, said the entire premise of the tournament "was decreasing violence in Philadelphia. We want to go into inner cities and redevelop grassroots basketball organizations."

Mills started his organization in 2009 to combat gun violence through combining the discipline of basketball with mentoring youths.

One of Mills' students, Wynter Bass, 16, of Mount Airy, said that her involvement with the community basketball program "made me want to better myself," and that playing adults demonstrated "they're just like one of us."

Miller said he appreciated the chance to interact with the community, though, laughing, he admitted his basketball skills were not good enough to join the game.